Vacaville pastor arrested in arson case

Published By Times Herald

VACAVILLE - A Vacaville pastor has been arrested on suspicion of arson after someone threw a Molotov cocktail at a local residence on Thursday.

Mark Lewis, 39, pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church, was arrested along with three other people on suspicion of arson of an occupied home on Chateau Circle. Police said one of the occupants of the home has an active restraining order against Lewis.

Lewis had also been named as a suspect in four other incidents of harassment and vandalism against the victim since Christmas. In one incident, bushes in front of the victim's home were set on fire.

In the most recent incident, according to a press release, Vacaville police received a 911 call at 3:30 a.m. Thursday from someone inside a residence on Chateau Circle who said a Molotov cocktail had been thrown into their home.

Police said no one was injured and damage to the home was minor, as the residents were able to put out the fire before firefighters and police officers arrived. Six people, including three children, were asleep inside the residence at the time of the incident, police said.

Within minutes of the call, a responding patrol officer at the intersection of Ulatis Drive and Leisure Town Road saw a rental vehicle traveling northbound on Leisure Town Road heading toward the freeway, police said, adding that it was the only vehicle observed on the road at the time. Spotting a vehicle code violation, the officer made an enforcement stop.

During the course of their investigation, police said they found information and evidence implicating the three in the fire bombing on Chateau Circle.

Newbolt, Wright and Broyles were arrested and booked into Solano County Jail on charges of arson of an inhabited dwelling and possession of an incendiary device. Newbolt and Broyles also had unrelated outstanding arrest warrants.

Police said Newbolt and Broyles told investigators that they had been staying at Fellowship Baptist Church, 3321 Farrell Road in rural Vacaville, because they are homeless.

Lewis resides in a home on the church property and officers served a search warrant at his home. Numerous items of evidence were seized, including an illegal handgun and suspected methamphetamine, police said.

Detectives said they also found evidence implicating Lewis as a co-conspirator in the Thursday morning arson fire.

Lewis was arrested on suspicion of arson on an inhabited dwelling, conspiracy and stalking. He is currently being held at Solano County Jail in Fairfield, with bail set at $500,000.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Vacaville Police Department at 449-5200 or Detective Chris Lechuga at 449-5269.